356-360

*Chapter 356: Oscar Nominations*

While filming, the nominations for the 77th Academy Awards were announced.

Richard received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Troy.

His competitors included Morgan Freeman for Million Dollar Baby, Alan Alda for The Aviator, Thomas Haden Church for Sideways, and Clive Owen for Closer.

Charlize Theron also earned a Best Actress nomination for Monster, but her competition was fierce.

Among her competitors were Hilary Swank, who recently won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama for Million Dollar Baby, Annette Bening, who won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for Being Julia, the Colombian actress Catalina Sandino Moreno, who gained critical acclaim for Maria Full of Grace, and Kate Winslet, who was well received for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Additionally, Hotel Rwanda received four nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Original Screenplay.

Monster was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Troy was nominated for Best Makeup and Best Art Direction.

Following the announcement of the nominations, the media speculated heavily. The films seen as the biggest winners were The Aviator, which received 11 nominations, Million Dollar Baby with 7, and Finding Neverland also with 7.

As for the Best Supporting Actor category, Richard and Morgan Freeman were considered the frontrunners. 60% of people bet on Morgan, while 40% bet on Richard.

In the Best Actress category, 50% supported Hilary Swank, 30% backed Annette Bening, and less than 20% bet on Charlize Theron.

"Richard, I think you can win," Brad Pitt said, smoking and reading the newspaper.

"Thanks. If I win, I'll treat you all to coffee," Richard laughed.

"Richard, I think you can win too. Don't forget to treat me to coffee," Liv Tyler smiled.

"No problem."

"Everyone ready?" Martin Scorsese called out.

"OK!" Richard put down the newspaper and headed to the set.

At the beginning of February, good news came from Berlin. Charlize Theron won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 54th Berlin Film Festival for her brilliant performance in Monster, becoming the Berlin Queen.

After Theron’s win, media support for her to take the Oscar for Best Actress rose to 40%, but Hilary Swank still had over 50%.

After Charlize won, Richard took some time off and returned to Los Angeles to celebrate with friends in the industry. Winning Best Actress at Berlin was certainly something to brag about.

"Richard, you and Charlize have tough competition. Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman are really putting pressure on us," Anthony said, raising a glass.

"So what? Don’t tell me we don’t have a chance," Richard replied.

"We do. We've done everything we can, but we only have a 50% chance. The rest is up to the Academy voters," Anthony shrugged.

Richard thought for a moment. "If there's a chance, focus more on Charlize's Best Actress campaign. I'm about to step out of the industry, so it doesn't matter if I win or not. Charlize's Best Actress win is more important."

"Got it. I'll remember that."

Anthony left the party early, and soon after, Keanu Reeves approached Richard.

"Richard, do you think you have a shot at Best Supporting Actor?"

"Yeah, I think I did pretty well," Richard laughed.

"Yes, Richard, I support you winning," Johnny Depp said, raising a glass.

"Thanks, Johnny. You’ve got a good shot too."

Johnny Depp had also been nominated for Best Actor for his performance in Finding Neverland, facing strong competition.

His rivals included Don Cheadle for Hotel Rwanda, Leonardo DiCaprio for The Aviator, Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby, and Jim Carrey for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

"Well, you both have a shot," Keanu shrugged, sounding a little bitter. Both Richard and Depp had received Oscar nominations in back-to-back years, while he hadn’t received any. It was hard not to feel a little salty.

Richard smiled. "Keanu, you should work on your acting more. If you can be a little more humble, Depp and I can give you some pointers."

"What?!" Keanu glared at him. "You want to give me acting tips?"

"If you need them, I can spare some time," Richard laughed.

"Ha! Richard, you're getting cocky. Your acting is about the same as mine. No, wait, it's even a little worse. And you think you can give me pointers?" Keanu retorted.

"I think Richard's acting is better than yours," Depp chimed in with a smile. "He was great as the hitman in Collateral, especially with his eyes and his attention to detail. Few people can match him. His roles in Troy and as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings were also iconic."

"Thanks, Johnny," Richard raised his glass with a smile.

"No problem," Depp replied, clinking his glass with Richard's.

Ding~

Keanu looked at the two of them and turned to leave.

"Keanu, where are you going?" Richard laughed, blocking him.

"Get out of my way. A guy who's never even been nominated for an Oscar doesn't deserve to drink with two award contenders," Keanu said with a straight face.

"You're so petty," Depp chuckled, putting his arm around Keanu’s shoulder. "Richard and I are just trying to motivate you, but instead of listening, you're getting mad at us. Our good intentions are wasted on you."

"Exactly, Keanu, you're a disappointment," Richard said, shaking his head as he walked away.

Depp shook his head and followed suit.

"Hey, don’t leave. Let's talk some more," Keanu chased after them.

"What are those three doing?" Sandra asked with a smile.

"Don't worry about them. Every time they get together, they turn into little kids. So immature," Charlize Theron laughed.

"Yes, sometimes I think the same thing," Jennifer Aniston added. "When you see them in their movies, each one is the picture of cool. But put them together, and they’re like Eva and Annie."

"I think it’s kind of fun," Sandra Bullock laughed.

---

After two days in Los Angeles, Richard returned to the set to continue filming.

While he was working, Michelle delivered the January sales report for the "Richard Sports Brand."

On January 1st, Richard's personal brand officially launched in Nike stores and on eBay. His ad campaigns were everywhere—on TV, in newspapers, magazines, and posters.

After more than a month of promotion, the total online and offline sales had reached $3.4 billion.

The best-selling item was the sweatshirt Richard wore during his WWE appearance, with over 2.1 million units sold. The matching hat sold over 800,000 units.

At the same time, Nike and Adidas's best-selling sports apparel of the same period sold fewer than 1 million units.

Based on feedback, customers had a relatively high level of recognition for the Richard Sports Brand.

The marketing department suggested that if Richard could participate in more promotional activities, sales might even double.

Richard said he would consider it.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 357: What Are the Chances of Winning an Award?*

“How are the clothes selling?”

At the Brad Estate, Mrs. Bundchen had just finished work.

Holding a document, Richard smiled and said, “Take a guess—what do you think the first month's sales were?”

Mrs. Bundchen hung up her coat. “Did it reach 50 million?”

“50 million? Ha, you're seriously underestimating your husband,” Richard said with a shake of his head and a smile.

“50 million is underestimating you? Do you know how much Chanel’s spring collection sold in the first quarter last year?”

She held up her fingers and said, “Just about 50 million. So I think 50 million is already giving you a lot of credit.”

“Really? Well then, it seems my clothes are selling pretty well,” Richard said, stroking his chin.

“How much? Tell me!” Mrs. Bundchen pushed him to answer.

“Not much, just 340 million,” Richard said nonchalantly.

“340 million?” Mrs. Bundchen froze. “Don’t tell me you sold 340 million worth of clothes in a month.”

“It’s the truth,” Richard said, handing her the document.

She flipped through the pages. “You sold 2.1 million of the sports hoodies? 800,000 hats? 230,000 tracksuits? Are these numbers real?”

“Of course. Michelle sent the data, and she’s not one to joke around,” Richard replied with a smile.

The sports hoodies were from the collection he wore during a WWE appearance, and he wore them frequently. The collection had 18 unique designs, all innovative and popular.

“2.1 million pieces? That’s insane. I’ve sold clothes for three years and haven’t even reached 1 million pieces. You did in a month what took me three years. And look at your revenue—my entire year’s sales barely broke 100 million, and you did 340 million in a month.”

Mrs. Bundchen was a bit envious. Comparing herself to him was demoralizing.

Richard chuckled, “Well, Nike has more stores and global distribution. We invested about 80 million in advertising, and including my endorsement fee, we’ve spent at least 200 million. Plus, we have to factor in channel commissions, material costs, and labor. Honestly, we're still in the red.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Is that how you’re calculating it? You made 340 million in the first month. By the end of the first quarter, you’ll have recouped your costs, and you’ll be profiting for the rest of the year. Based on this, your clothing revenue will be at least 1 billion this year, and even more next year.”

Mrs. Bundchen glanced at him. “There’s a rumor going around that you’re involved with the Goddess of Fortune. Is it true?”

“Haha, that’s right. I’ve been sharing a bed with the Goddess of Fortune for almost eight years now. Isn’t that right, Goddess?” Richard said, pulling her onto his lap.

“Stop it!” She nudged him with her shoulder. “Careful, or the Goddess of Fortune will hear you and turn you into a pauper.”

Richard laughed. “The first month’s sales were good. The marketing department wants to shoot more commercials to ramp up the campaign. There are two clothing lines doing well, and we need a female spokesperson. Do you have time?”

“I’ll need to see the designs first. If they’re ugly, I’m not doing it,” she said with a smile.

“Deal!”

In the following days, Richard and Mrs. Bundchen worked together to shoot several commercials and print ads. They also hosted two events at Richard’s flagship sportswear stores.

At the moment, there were only two Richard-branded stores in the world: one in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and the other in Manhattan, New York. Other distribution channels were handled through Nike stores and online sales.

After a few busy days, Richard returned to the movie set. Even though he was the lead actor, Pitt had just as many scenes.

While filming, the crew worked in three teams across New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, often traveling between cities to shoot various scenes.

After more than a month of filming, the Oscars arrived, and the crew got a two-day break.

Martin Scorsese, the director of The Departed, was nominated for Best Director for The Aviator.

Troy received three nominations, so as a producer, Pitt was also attending.

Liv Tyler, who had given a great performance in The Aviator, was invited to present an award.

Richard was also attending to see if he had a chance of winning Best Supporting Actor.

“What are the chances?” Richard asked Anthony before the ceremony.

“99%,” Anthony said confidently.

“That high? Are you underestimating Morgan Freeman?” Richard asked, surprised.

Anthony smiled. “You’re underestimating yourself. It’s just a small Oscar for supporting actor. The fact that you’re willing to accept the award is already doing the Academy a favor.”

Richard shook his head, “I hope you’re not just talking big. Otherwise, I’ll have to practice boxing with you tomorrow.”

“Uh... well, I said 99%,” Anthony replied awkwardly.

Anthony hesitated.

Richard curled his lips. "How likely is Sally to land the lead role?"

"Well, the lead role is much more competitive than the supporting ones. We've been preparing for six months, but I’d say it's less than 50%."

Anthony replied.

"Half is enough. We'll leave the other half to luck."

Once the costume designer had finished adjusting his clothes, Richard got into a low-profile Rolls-Royce and headed to the Dolby Theatre. Almost simultaneously, Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom arrived as well.

"Hey, Richard, you're looking sharp today," Brad Pitt said with a smile.

"So are you!"

Richard bumped fists with him.

"Hey, Richard!"

Orlando stepped out of his car, waving.

"Let's go!"

"Wait!"

Orlando opened the back door and extended his hand to help out a girl with bangs.

"Hi, brother-in-law!"

The girl looked up slightly, her cheeks flushed.

"Patricia?!"

Richard raised his eyebrows. "You two are making it official?"

"Yeah, what do you think?"

Orlando grinned.

Richard thought for a moment. "I hope this isn't just a spur-of-the-moment thing."

"Haha, it’s not. I've thought this through, and I've also informed my agency, so it’s all good," Orlando explained.

"Alright then, I hope it's the right decision."

"Brother-in-law, can I walk with you later? I'm a little nervous," Patricia said.

"Sure."

Richard had taken Patricia to a few of his movie premieres in the past. The media was well aware of their relationship, and with his and Gisele's status, Patricia had easily made a name for herself. She was now as well-known as some mid-level celebrities.

"Wait a minute!"

Brad Pitt glanced at Orlando and Patricia. "So, you two are dating?"

"Haha, yeah! Patricia and I met on the set of Troy, you know that."

Orlando gave a brief explanation.

"Alright then. Patricia is a wonderful girl. I hope you two last," Pitt said with a smile.

"Thanks, we will."

The four of them walked onto the red carpet. Richard had initially planned to hold Patricia’s hand, but Orlando insisted on walking with her, ready to face the media head-on, so Richard didn't object.

As they made their way onto the carpet, the photographers snapped away, with about 80% of the cameras focused on Richard. But some sharp-eyed reporters noticed Orlando holding Patricia’s hand, and suddenly half the attention shifted to them.

The Prince of Elves was in a relationship, and with none other than Gisele's sister—now that was big news.

"Orlando, are you dating Ms. Patricia?"

"Orlando, Ms. Patricia, can you talk about your relationship?"

Dozens of reporters shouted.

Richard didn't respond, leaving the questions to Orlando and Patricia.

Orlando looked at Patricia, then led her forward to face the media.

"Yes, we’re dating. Thank you for your concern," Orlando said with a smile.

"Can you tell us how you met?"

A reporter asked.

"Oh, that’s a long story. To put it simply, I liked Patricia the moment I saw her. I pursued her, and eventually, we fell in love," Orlando said happily.

"Ah, young love," Pitt laughed.

"Indeed," Richard chuckled.

"Mr. Pitt, what do you think about Orlando and Ms. Patricia's relationship?" a reporter shouted.

"I wish them all the best!"

Richard waved and walked into the Dolby Theatre.

"Had some personal stuff today, only one update."

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 358: Best of Luck on Winning Your Oscar*

At 5:30 PM, the 77th Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre, hosted by comedian Chris Rock.

Chris Rock, a sharp-tongued Black comedian, immediately made jokes about race as he took the stage.

"Today is a great day because three Black people are nominated for Oscars. This is amazing—Oscars really love Black people," Chris said, pointing at himself, causing the audience to burst into laughter.

"Of course, I also love the Oscars. Do you all know why? Because it's the only award show where actors don't have to perform live.

For the Grammys, you need to sing. For the Tony Awards, you have to sing and dance. For the Salsa Awards, they need you to sing, dance, and sometimes shoot guns.

At the Oscars, the only performance you give is pretending you're not mad when you don't win."

Chris Rock grinned, flashing a stiff smile.

Clap, clap, clap~

The audience applauded. Richard smiled as well, sitting in the front row where the camera frequently panned to him. Looking too serious would make him stand out awkwardly, which was one of the reasons he wasn't too fond of attending the Oscars.

"Hey, brother-in-law," Patricia whispered, clapping her hands and leaning in. "These Oscar ceremonies are like three to four hours long. How do people in the front row go to the bathroom?"

"They hold it in!" Richard replied with a grin, giving her a look to stay quiet. Chatting while the host was speaking seemed rude.

"Alright, now I understand why Gisele didn't want to come," Patricia mumbled softly.

Richard chuckled. He had invited Ms. Bündchen to walk the red carpet with him, as she had often attended other award shows when she had the time.

Ms. Bündchen was initially planning to attend this one, too, but after seeing that Ms. Charlize Theron had a good chance of winning, she decided not to come. Richard didn’t press her. After all, it was only a Best Supporting Actor nomination, and his chances of winning weren’t high. Maybe next year or the year after, he could get a Best Actor nomination. He felt confident in his performance in The Departed.

"Take Richard Brad, for example. He's one incredibly hardworking actor," Chris Rock suddenly shifted the topic to Richard, snapping him out of his daydream. The camera focused on him as Chris rambled onstage.

"I think there are very few people in the world who don’t know who Richard Brad is. Back home in Africa, many people don’t even know who the President of the U.S. is, but if you ask them who their idol is, a lot of young folks will scream 'Richard!' so loud it'll burst your eardrums," Chris said, mimicking a shouting voice.

Richard smiled and clapped.

"Yes, I also admire Richard Brad. When I first saw him, he knocked out my idol Roy Jones Jr. I thought he was an amazing boxer. Then I saw him in movies, and I thought acting was just a side gig, something he did for fun in Hollywood.

Turns out I was wrong. For the past four years, every time I walked into a cinema, there was Richard Brad’s face on the posters: The Lord of the Rings, Fast & Furious, The Bourne Identity, Collateral, Troy, National Treasure, and so on.

A media outlet once asked Richard Brad how he managed to be the box-office king for two consecutive years. Do you really need to ask? Of course, it's because he’s hardworking. Or maybe it’s because he’s a billionaire."

Clap, clap, clap~

The crowd roared with laughter.

"Richard!" Orlando gave him two thumbs up.

Richard smiled slightly and clapped.

"Brother-in-law, is he teasing you for inflating your box office numbers?" Patricia asked with a wink.

"It’s just a joke. Don’t take it seriously," Richard chuckled.

After seven minutes of stand-up, Chris Rock stepped down, and presenters began announcing the nominees in each category. From Art Direction to Best Picture, a total of 20 awards were to be given out.

Forty-five minutes later, after the announcement of several awards, the show moved on to the performances. There were ten musical numbers and film montage performances. Jessica Alba led a group of dancers in a street dance routine, bringing a lively atmosphere.

"Brother-in-law, the news says Jessica and you had a fling. Is it true?" Patricia asked, eyes locked on him.

Richard smirked. "The news says I’ve got 388 girlfriends. Look around—tell me which actress hasn’t been mentioned in a rumor?"

"Really?" Patricia scanned the surroundings. Julia Roberts, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Watts, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, Liv Tyler, Natalie Portman—except for Roberts and Winslet, all of them had been linked to Richard in the tabloids.

"Hey, Patricia!" Charlize Theron waved from the second row.

"Ms. Theron, best of luck winning the Oscar!" Patricia smiled sweetly.

"Thank you!" Charlize grinned.

"Patricia, why didn’t you wish me luck?" Scarlett Johansson teased. She often visited Brad's estate and was about the same age as Patricia, so they were quite close.

"Did you get nominated?"

"Nope!" Scarlett laughed.

Patricia rolled her eyes and turned back to Richard. "I swear, several of them have something going on with you. When everyone else was watching the dance, they were staring at you like they wanted to eat you alive."

Richard chuckled. "Hey, it’s not a crime to have a crush. Don't hold it against them. Just blame it on my irresistible charm."

"Ugh, brother-in-law, Gisele's right—your skin is thicker than most."

"I'm a boxer. Thick skin helps me take punches."

"Fine, you win," Patricia laughed.

"Ahem~ Patricia, talk to me too," Orlando said, leaning in.

"What’s there to talk about? People are singing. You should be paying attention. It’s rude otherwise."

". . ."

Orlando shrugged.

As the camera panned over, the people in the front row resumed their attentive expressions, listening to a group of children singing Look to Your Path from The Chorus.

The performance lasted 40 minutes, and then the awards ceremony entered its most crucial phase: who would take home the Oscars?

The first three awards were for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actress, all won by The Aviator. Cate Blanchett took home the award for Best Supporting Actress.

The seventh award was for Best Original Screenplay. Richard had high hopes for Hotel Rwanda, but it went to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.

The eighth award, Best Foreign Language Film, went to the Spanish film The Sea Inside, much to Richard’s disappointment, as he had been rooting for The Chorus.

Then came the ninth award: Best Supporting Actor. Last year’s Best Supporting Actress, Renée Zellweger, took the stage.

"Brother-in-law, are you nervous? Excited?" Patricia asked, her fists clenched in excitement.

"Neither," Richard replied calmly.

"Why not? The papers say your chances of winning are pretty high."

"Once you’ve won enough trophies with even more prestige than the Oscar, you start to feel pretty calm about these things," Richard said with a smile.

"The winner of the 77th Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is..."

——

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 359: A Wizard Told Me

On the podium, Renée Zellweger opened the envelope and smiled at the audience.

"Hurry up and say it already! So annoying!"

Patricia, seated below the stage, clenched her fists in frustration.

"Hold on, they're about to get a close-up."

Orlando reminded her.

Several photographers pointed their cameras at the nominees: Richard Brad, Morgan Freeman, Alan Alda, Clive Owen, and Thomas Haden Church.

Richard leaned back in his seat, looking relaxed.

"Ha, Bündchen, look at that! Richard looks like he's sitting on a throne. So commanding!"

At Brad Manor, Angela was watching the live broadcast, lounging in Richard’s sportswear, legs crossed while munching on fruit. Little Louis was beside her, quietly tearing up a magazine.

Ms. Bündchen glanced at the TV and smiled, "He's just putting on a show. He's actually a little nervous."

"Richard? Nervous? He fights in front of seventy, eighty thousand people without a care, so why would he be nervous in front of a camera?"

Angela laughed.

"He's really looking forward to the Oscar statuette. That’s why he's a bit tense."

"Alright, look at Patricia. She's still sneaking in some words at a time like this."

"Hmph, that brat made her relationship public without saying a word. When she gets back, I’m going to pinch her cheeks until they’re swollen."

Ms. Bündchen huffed and gave little Louis a light pat on the bottom. "Go play with your blocks. Stop making a mess."

Little Louis looked at her fearfully, put down the magazine, and nestled into the sofa to watch the TV too.

"Mommy, it’s Daddy! It’s Daddy!"

"Yes, I know. It's your daddy."

Ms. Bündchen held his little hand and smiled.

"And Auntie too."

Little Louis blinked his big eyes and said.

"Yes, your aunt, who loves causing trouble just like you."

Ms. Bündchen laughed.

"Trouble?"

Little Louis blinked his innocent eyes.

"Ha, Louis is quite the actor. He could be a star when he grows up!"

Angela laughed.

"And the winner of the 77th Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is..."

Renée Zellweger announced loudly, holding the card.

"Morgan Freeman!"

Applause erupted from the audience.

"Fuuuuuuck, why not Richard?!"

Anthony, watching the TV, erupted in anger.

"Anthony, language!"

Michelle scolded.

"Oh, sorry, Vivian. That was wrong of me to use bad words."

Anthony smiled at the six-year-old girl, Vivian.

"It’s okay, Anthony. Mommy uses bad words all the time."

Vivian said indifferently.

"When do I ever swear?"

Michelle frowned.

"Whenever you’re on the phone, you’re always saying 'damn it' or 'go to hell.'"

Vivian started counting on her little fingers.

"Don’t exaggerate! Those are just filler words. Alright, Mommy was wrong too."

Michelle smiled.

Anthony shrugged and said, "I’m going to make a call."

"Don't be upset. This is only Richard’s second nomination. It makes sense he didn’t win."

"I know."

Anthony walked out with his phone, and soon his voice could be heard angrily swearing.

Michelle closed the door and continued watching the ceremony. Morgan Freeman took the stage, thanked a few people, and then turned to Richard in the front row.

"Hey, Richard, you're only 27. You’ve got plenty more chances."

Morgan smiled.

Richard smiled and clapped. He had worked with Morgan Freeman on Batman, and they had a good relationship. This was Morgan's fourth Academy Award nomination, twice for Best Actor and twice for Best Supporting Actor, and finally, he had the golden statue in hand.

Morgan winning was well-deserved.

Richard, on the other hand, felt a bit relieved. If he had beaten Morgan to win the award, people might have accused him of things like bribery, bullying a Black actor, or said the award was undeserved. The negative backlash would outweigh the positives.

"Haha, I told you Richard wouldn’t win. I called it!"

Keanu Reeves laughed loudly, slapping his leg.

"Dad, why are you so happy that Richard didn’t win?"

Little Ava blinked her big eyes, puzzled.

"Uh, well..."

"Ava, don’t pay attention to him. He’s just jealous."

Jennifer chuckled.

"Me? Jealous of him? Don’t be ridiculous. When it comes to acting, I’m miles ahead of Richard. Why would I be jealous?"

Reeves complained.

"Then why are you so happy? Search your heart."

Jennifer smiled teasingly.

Reeves frowned, "I’m not jealous. I’m just being honest. Morgan’s been nominated four times; he deserved to win. Richard's still too young. He needs more practice."

"Alright, but you should practice too. Richard's been nominated for the Golden Globes three times and for the Oscars twice now."

Jennifer smiled.

"I will. It’s just that I’m bad at picking scripts. Richard's got a knack for picking good ones."

Reeves looked annoyed.

Ever since The Matrix blew up, he lost interest in commercial films and had been chasing after critical acclaim instead. He had taken on many indie films over the years, like The Watcher, The Replacements, and Something’s Gotta Give, hoping to win some awards. But he hadn't even received a Golden Globe nomination.

He figured it might be time to ask Richard for help choosing a script.

"Hahaha! Well done!"

In the Weinstein Company’s office, Harvey Weinstein laughed loudly, puffing on a cigar as he watched the TV.

"Richard said he’d retire in 2006. A few years back, he openly declared he’d win an Oscar. There’s only a year left. I’d like to see how he plans to do that."

Bob chuckled darkly.

Richard had been close to winning this time, but Weinstein had quietly intervened, aggressively influencing the vote, angering some of the Academy's old guard. Those people certainly weren’t going to vote for Richard.

"Hmph, this is Hollywood. Hollywood has its own rules. Even if he’s a billionaire, what does that matter? You don’t win awards here unless we say so."

Harvey laughed, his belly shaking.

"Exactly. With us around, I’ll make sure he walks away empty-handed."

Bob grinned confidently.

"Richard, don't feel bad. Just getting nominated is already a big deal. Plenty of actors go their whole careers without even one nomination."

Back at the ceremony, Patricia said softly.

Richard smirked, "Can you stop with the forced comfort? Also, did you think about the feelings of the people sitting next to us when you said that?"

"People next to us?"

Patricia glanced around. "But Mr. Pitt has been nominated before."

"Haha, Patricia, look a little further."

Brad Pitt pointed to her right.

"Patricia, I’ve never been nominated."

Orlando shrugged.

“You need to work harder. After all, you’re a year older than Richard.”

Patricia clenched her fists to cheer him on.

“o(╯□╰)o” – Orlando.

“Haha, Patricia, you really know how to comfort someone,” Brad Pitt laughed.

Richard shook his head and continued to focus on the stage.

After the Best Supporting Actor award, ten more minor awards were given out, including music, sound effects, makeup, costume, short film, documentary, visual effects, and editing.

Then came the highlight of every awards ceremony: Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Picture.

The 21st award, and the fourth-to-last, was for Best Director.

As expected, the award went to the frontrunner, Clint Eastwood, the director of Million Dollar Baby. This was his second time winning the Oscar for Best Director.

The 22nd award was for Best Actress. Last year’s Best Actor, Sean Penn, took the stage, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

“The winner of the 77th Academy Award for Best Actress is…”

The screen displayed the five nominated actresses: Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Annette Bening, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Kate Winslet.

Though they all smiled, they couldn’t hide a bit of nervousness.

Everyone in the audience listened attentively.

“Charlize Theron for Monster!”

“Wow~”

Many people turned to look at Ms. Theron. After winning Best Actress in Berlin, she had now taken the Oscar, propelling her career even further, solidifying her place as one of the top actresses in Hollywood. Truly enviable.

Ms. Theron paused for a second, smiled slightly, then hugged Monster director Patty Jenkins before confidently striding forward in her high heels.

Clap, clap, clap~

The audience erupted into applause.

“Ms. Theron, congratulations!” Patricia said with a smile.

“Thank you, Patricia!”

Ms. Theron stopped to hug her, then glanced over at Richard.

Richard smiled gently, “Sally, congratulations!”

“Thank you!” Ms. Theron winked and smiled.

When she reached the podium, Ms. Theron happily took the golden statuette.

“Thank you, thank you to the Academy. Thank you to New Century Films. Winning this award is such a surprise, especially considering how talented the other four actresses are.

As for Monster, I actually started preparing for this role back in 1997 because a gypsy told me I had to play this character. She said if I did, I’d definitely win an award.

I didn’t believe it at the time, but now, with this golden statue in my hand, I guess I have to give a shout-out to pseudo-science.”

Ms. Theron winked playfully, as if she were joking.

Hahaha~

The crowd burst into laughter.

“Oh my God, I just remembered, Richard said that!” Levi shouted excitedly in front of the TV.

“What did Richard say?” Jennifer asked, confused.

“The first time we met Richard, he said Sally would become a big woman. Look at Monster! Didn’t Sally become a big woman? Richard’s a wizard, I’m telling you!”

Levi pounded his thigh in excitement.

“Richard was just joking,” Jennifer said.

“No way, Richard is totally a wizard. I should’ve asked him to read my future too,” Levi said, full of regret.

“I’ve decided, next time, I’m definitely asking Richard to read my future,” Levi said firmly.

“Thank you, Patty Jenkins, thank you, Copeland, thank you, Anthony. And here, I’d also like to thank one more person…”

Ms. Theron smiled slightly.

Richard’s scalp tightened. No way, please don’t do anything crazy, dear.

——

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 360: The Actor is Flattering

"Here, I want to thank a very special person, someone who has been with me during the past..."

"Who is she thanking? Richard?"

In front of the TV, Angela glanced at Mrs. Bündchen and smiled.

Mrs. Bündchen's face was cold but then broke into a smile. "Let her be. If she won this award, Richard definitely deserves some credit."

"Aren't you mad? I didn't realize you had such a big heart."

Angela touched her slender waist. "Hmm, doesn't seem that big."

"Stop it!"

Mrs. Bündchen slapped her hand away. "Why should I be mad? Even if she became the Best Actress at the Oscars, she could never become Mrs. Brad."

"Exactly. Even as an Oscar-winning actress, she’d still come after you. So, dear Mrs. Brad, aren’t you worried Richard might get seduced by her?"

Angela laughed.

"No, I'm not. Richard lacked family affection growing up, so he deeply values it. We've been together for eight years, from friends to lovers to husband and wife. I can confidently say that no one can replace me in his heart."

"Then why don't you rein him in, stop him from fooling around, or make a fuss about it?"

Angela urged.

Mrs. Bündchen shook her head. "I won’t do that. I love him and am willing to fulfill his every need. Besides, he’s a powerful man, stronger than any other. He deserves more freedom.

"If I were to constrain him, we’d only grow apart. But giving him more freedom will only bring him closer to me, because he’ll eventually realize home is the best place."

Angela gave a thumbs up and playfully hugged Mrs. Bündchen. "Dear, can you teach me how to manage a man? I want to be as powerful as you."

"Sure, but first, you need to have a man."

"..."

Angela's face twitched, slowly turning dark. "Bündchen, you're so mean. It's your fault I've been single for so long, and now you're mocking me? I’m gonna get you!"

Angela lunged at her.

"Haha, what does your being single have to do with me? Don’t blame the wrong person."

Mrs. Bündchen laughed, pushing her away.

"It’s all because of you and that jerk Richard. I used to have simple standards for men—gentle, handsome, middle-class or above. But after seeing how amazing Richard is, no other man appeals to me. Isn’t that your fault?"

Angela complained, frustrated.

Mrs. Bündchen smiled. "Calm down, Louis is sleeping."

"Oh?"

Angela paused and saw little Louis slumped in the corner of the sofa, fast asleep.

"Such a cute little guy."

Angela chuckled softly.

"Of course, look who his mother is."

Mrs. Bündchen smiled slightly and got up to carry the little one to bed.

"Don’t you want to know who Charlize is thanking?"

Angela asked.

"Not interested, no need."

Mrs. Bündchen left the living room.

"Yeah, right, like you don’t care," Angela muttered, grinning at the TV.

——

"I want to thank a very special person..."

"Haha, it must be Richard. Is Sally about to confess?"

Keanu Reeves said excitedly.

"No way, doing that would be bad for both of them. Sally wouldn’t be so reckless," Jennifer thought aloud.

"What’s the big deal? Richard, that jerk, messed up Sally's life for seven or eight years, and she even gave birth to little Annie. He owes her an explanation," Reeves insisted.

Jennifer shook her head slightly. "Before they got involved, Sally knew Richard was with Bündchen. She also knew Bündchen was pregnant when she had the baby. There was no deceit involved, so Richard doesn’t owe her anything."

Reeves stared at her in shock. "Jennifer, aren’t you a feminist? I can't believe you’re defending Richard!"

"I’m just being objective. Richard may be a bit of a playboy, but he genuinely cares about Sally. Aside from marriage, he’s given her everything—honor, career, family, security."

"Hmm, darling, I didn’t know you were so open-minded. So if I—"

Reeves stroked his beard and grinned slyly.

"You can try."

Jennifer picked up a fruit knife from the table and peeled an apple for little Eva.

"Uh, haha, darling, relax. I’m not like Richard. I’d never mess around. Look, Sally’s about to pressure him into marriage, Richard’s gonna be in trouble!"

Reeves laughed.

"Is Sally really going public?"

When Charlize Theron mentioned thanking a special person, everyone who knew the truth started to worry for Richard.

Anthony, Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, and even the Weinstein brothers watched the TV with anticipation.

"Is Charlize Theron about to spill the beans? That would be perfect. Let the world see how terrible Richard really is," Bob said eagerly.

They had long known about Richard’s relationships with Charlize Theron and many other women.

But Richard, the crafty agent, had used his vigilance to avoid the paparazzi and had bodyguards around key people, making it hard to gather any solid evidence.

Last August, they had collected indirect evidence, hoping to expose his affairs with Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, and others.

Even if they couldn't ruin Richard’s reputation, they wanted to tarnish it.

However, shortly after the rumors surfaced, the media reported stories linking Richard to 388 other women within a month, drowning out their efforts.

Their well-laid plans went to waste.

But now the truth might finally come out, and they were thrilled.

"Yes, get the reporters ready. We’re going to take Richard down," Weinstein said grimly.

"Got it!"

Bob picked up the phone, staring at Charlize Theron in her golden gown, with her golden hair elegantly tied up, her tall and fiery figure mesmerizing. How could Richard have snagged such a stunning woman?

This time, they would make him pay.

"I want to thank a very special person,"

On the award stage, Charlize Theron held her Oscar statuette and said, "During these past days, she’s always been by my side. With her, I’ve felt an unprecedented happiness and fulfillment. Annie, Mommy loves you."

Boom—

As soon as she said “Mommy,” the audience was in an uproar, and viewers at home were equally stunned.

"The South African diamond is a mom?"

"Charlize Theron has a child?"

"Is this for real? Who’s the father?"

Everyone started talking at once.

"Well..."

Those in the know frowned. Charlize Theron had publicly revealed she was a mother. Having a child out of wedlock could have a big impact, and she would bear the brunt of it.

"Sigh, why does no one ever make things easy?"

Anthony scratched his head hard, his wig getting messed up. Charlize Theron had turned to BAA, becoming both a boss and an artist.

As the CEO of BAA, any issues with an artist would reflect on him. The next few days would be sleepless.

"As a mother, I understand Charlize,"

Michelle, Jennifer, and Bündchen said almost simultaneously while watching TV.

"Why?"

Anthony asked in confusion.

"It’s better to reveal something like this sooner so the child can grow up in a healthy environment," Jennifer explained.

"But this timing will disrupt Annie’s normal life. Sally is being too impulsive," Reeves added.

Bündchen shook her head. "Love is blind and impulsive, remember? And Annie is also Richard’s child. Do you think Richard will just stand by and do nothing?"

"What can Richard do? Admit it publicly?"

Angela shook her head. "That would destroy his image."

Bündchen smiled. "You underestimate Richard’s connections, and the power of money.

"Not only BAA, Starlight Sports, and New Century won’t let him fall, but even his partners—Stralem Capital, Nike, Warner, Universal, Fox, and even government officials—don’t want to see their star collapse.

"And besides, what does Charlize Theron becoming a mother have to do with Richard? Why would it ruin him?"

"Uh..."

Angela blinked her fox-like eyes. "Richard has a lot of competitors."

Bündchen smiled confidently. "Are any of them a real threat?"

"Well, okay!"

Angela shrugged. Richard had indeed grown stronger, not just physically but also in terms of his capital, connections, and reputation.

His friends included Larry Ellison, Jeff Bezos, Tom Hanks, Larry Page, and Murdoch, all major players on Forbes' list.

Not to mention the FBI, government departments, and even the White House. From what she knew, Richard and Bündchen had attended several presidential dinners together, indicating close ties.

As long as this guy doesn’t do anything outrageous, there shouldn’t be any major problems.

"Nothing major, but there will always be minor troubles," Angela said.

"Of course, and that’s his own doing," Mrs. Bündchen snorted.

“Hahaha~”

In the Weinstein Company office, the two brothers laughed as they watched TV.

“This time, we’re going to completely ruin that jerk Richard,” Weinstein laughed, loosening his belt and continuing to laugh heartily.

"Wait!" Bob rubbed his chin, thinking. “Charlize Theron only mentioned becoming a mother—how are we going to twist that against Richard?”

"Idiot. Theron becoming a mother is already a big news story, and Richard’s news is even bigger. All we need to do is nudge the media a bit, and they’ll flood Richard with attention. When reporters ask Richard if it’s true, if he tells the truth, he’s done for. If he doesn’t, he’ll seem dishonest. Either way, he’s screwed."

Weinstein smirked.

Bob nodded slightly. “Makes sense. Let’s go with that.”

Weinstein burst into laughter. “When Richard’s dirt comes out, let’s see him try to be a hero or a role model, hahaha~”

Bob smiled and turned back to the TV. "Look, they’re about to announce Best Actor. This time, it’s definitely Leonardo’s."

Weinstein nodded slightly. Among the nominees, Clint Eastwood had the best chance, but he had already won Best Director. The Academy wouldn’t give him Best Actor as well. That left Leonardo with the best shot, especially since they had pulled a lot of strings behind the scenes this time.

"Do you think Leonardo will thank us on stage? If it weren’t for us, Richard would’ve been the lead in that movie," Bob laughed.

“Whatever,” Weinstein smiled smugly. The thanks were inevitable; otherwise—

At the Oscars, after Charlize Theron dropped a bombshell, the audience calmed down after a brief commotion. Last year’s Best Actress winner walked up to the stage and opened the envelope.

“The winner of the 77th Academy Award for Best Actor is Don Cheadle for Hotel Rwanda.”

"What?!" The audience and viewers at home were shocked.

Don Cheadle was a Black actor. Compared to big stars like Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Samuel L. Jackson, he was relatively unknown. His main credits were supporting roles in Crash, Ocean’s Eleven, and Boogie Nights. And now, he had won Best Actor? He was only the third Black actor to win Best Actor in Oscar history.

Even Don Cheadle himself was stunned. He had been preparing for the camera to cut to him so he could put on a relaxed expression, as if he wasn’t upset about losing. But when he heard his name, he froze.

The camera captured him blinking in confusion, and he even shook his head slightly, as if wondering if he’d misheard.

“Haha, Don, congratulations! You won Best Actor!” The producer, Arnold Kopelson, patted him on the shoulder, laughing.

“Is... is this for real?” Don Cheadle asked, trembling.

“Yes, go on up!”

“Okay, okay!”

Don Cheadle stood up excitedly, walked a few steps, and then stopped to hug Kopelson tightly.

“Thank you, Arnold!”

Kopelson had chosen Cheadle for Crash, upgrading him from a supporting role to a lead, boosting his status in Hollywood. And for Hotel Rwanda, Kopelson had worked with him again, now helping him secure the Oscar.

“Don, you deserve this,” Kopelson smiled.

Applause followed Cheadle as he made his way to the stage. He hadn’t prepared a speech, so he kissed the Oscar statue repeatedly, thanking the Academy, New Millennium Films, Kopelson, and others over and over.

“And finally, I want to give a special thanks to one person,” Don Cheadle said seriously.

“Huh?” The audience looked at him in surprise. The guy was over 40 and had already been a father for years, right?

Cheadle flashed a big smile, showing off his bright teeth, and turned his gaze to Richard Brad, sitting in the front row.

“Mr. Brad, thank you. Thank you for founding New Millennium Films and for sticking with independent films. Your dedication gave ordinary actors like us a chance to shine, and your passion has brought new life to indie films. Thank you!”

Cheadle placed his hand over his chest and gave a slight bow.

Polite applause followed, but it wasn’t particularly enthusiastic. The way he had blatantly kissed up to Richard made many in the audience feel uncomfortable.

“Is it really okay to brown-nose like that?” Orlando Bloom frowned.

“What’s wrong with it? There’s no shame in flattering a billionaire!” Brad Pitt clapped loudly, even shouting a few cheers.

“Uh, are you brown-nosing Richard too?” Orlando asked, frowning.

“You don’t get it, I’m just showing support,” Pitt laughed.

“Pfft, I won’t be like you. Well done, Richard~~~” Orlando shouted as well.

“Hehe, brother-in-law, Orlando is kissing up to you too,” Patricia chuckled.

Richard smiled faintly, watching Don Cheadle leave the stage. This guy had potential, definitely worth signing to BAA.

“Hey, Mr. Brad, thanks again!” Cheadle smiled.

“Don, you deserve it,” Richard hugged him briefly.

“Fuuuuuuuuck!!!” Weinstein was furious. He grabbed an ashtray and threw it against the wall. The award should have gone to Leonardo, and the thanks should have been directed at him, not Richard. Damn it!

“Harvey, calm down. This was just an accident,” Bob tried to console him.

“Accident?” Weinstein’s anger flared even more. “New Millennium just won both Best Actor and Best Actress, and you’re calling it an accident?!”

"It was. The Oscars clearly wanted to favor Black actors this year—that’s why they had a Black host and gave the awards to Morgan Freeman and Don Cheadle. It doesn’t mean anything."

“Idiot! Do you know what the media used to call me? The Oscar Godfather, the star-maker. But now Richard has stolen all my thunder, and you still say it’s no big deal?! How could I end up with such a stupid brother?” Weinstein spat in rage.

Bob wiped the spittle from his face. “But what can we do now? We lobbied, but the Academy preferred to give the awards to an underdog rather than to popular actors like Leonardo or Johnny Depp. We can’t change that.”

Weinstein’s face turned a deep shade of purple as he glared at the TV screen, watching Richard Brad. “We’re going to bury him. That bastard doesn’t just have an illegitimate daughter—he’s trying to corrupt the Oscars with his money. I won’t stand for it.”

"But... don’t we often use money for PR too? Is it really okay for us to say that?" Bob hesitated.

“Shut up!” Weinstein glared at him as the Best Picture award was about to be announced. The nominees were Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Hotel Rwanda, and Sideways.

For this award, The Aviator seemed to have the best chance. It had received 11 nominations but had only won in minor categories like Costume Design and Cinematography so far. The Academy would likely compensate by giving it Best Picture.

“And the winner of the 77th Academy Award for Best Picture is... Million Dollar Baby.”

“Fuuuuuck!” Weinstein roared. Eleven nominations, and it only took home a few minor awards? What a slap in the face!

“How... how could it not be The Aviator?” Bob was stunned. Best Picture had been their last hope to salvage some dignity, and now that was gone too. How would they maintain their status as the Oscar kingmakers?

“It’s all Richard’s fault! That damned Richard is behind everything. I’m not going to let him get away with this!” Weinstein fumed.

“But... Million Dollar Baby has nothing to do with Richard, right?”

“Shut up!” Weinstein roared again, picking up the phone. Time was of the essence—he had to strike while the iron was hot. Tomorrow, Richard would be done for.

“Mr. Burroughs, did you watch the Oscars tonight? Great. Charlize Theron is pregnant, and the father is Richard. I want this as tomorrow’s front-page headline. I’ll make it worth your while. What? You’re asking for evidence?” Weinstein’s rage flared again, but he held it back. “You’re a tabloid. Since when do you need evidence to report gossip? Can’t you just make something up from a picture? What? You want a family photo?”

Weinstein frowned. “Of course I don’t have that. Can’t you just write the story without a picture? You’ve done it before. Why do you need a photo now? Ugh, fine. Next time then.”

He slammed the phone down in frustration.

“What happened? Did the deal fall through?” Bob asked, puzzled.

Weinstein didn’t answer, dialing more numbers, but the responses were all the same. They all wanted evidence—pictures—or they wouldn’t run the story.

“Fucking hypocrites! These trashy tabloids suddenly care about journalistic integrity? What a joke!” Weinstein cursed.

Weinstein angrily replied.

Bob sighed and also put down the phone. He had just made a few calls as well, with the same result. The other side wanted evidence, and without it, they hoped Bob's team could put down a deposit.

Otherwise, if Richard's legal team caught wind of this, the outcome would be the same as last year's media outlets that went bankrupt and shut down. Richard’s legal team was notoriously tough to deal with.

"Boss, I suspect Richard's team has bribed those guys. Otherwise, they wouldn't have rejected us so quickly and cleanly," Bob said suspiciously.

"Hmph, I don't believe he can control all the media. Keep looking for more people," Weinstein said, picking up the phone again. He wasn't going to sleep until Richard was dealt with tonight.

"Alright!" Bob nodded. In America, no one can control the media, not even a billionaire.

Richard was definitely going down.

(End of Chapter)